Bhubaneswar: Janata Maidan turned into a vibrant hub of colours, craftsmanship and culture on Friday with the opening of the 20th Grand Toshali Swadeshi Mela, one of Odisha’s largest platforms for handloom and handicraft traditions. The much-awaited annual fair brings together artisans and weavers from across the country, offering visitors a rich showcase of indigenous…

Bhubaneswar: With a clear focus on accelerating rural transformation, Minister for Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Rural Development Rabi Narayan Naik on Friday chaired a high-level review meeting with Chief Development Officers (CDO-cum-EOs) and Block Development Officers (BDOs) to assess the progress of key rural development initiatives across Odisha. The meeting was held at the…

Bhubaneswar: Odisha on Friday rolled out a structured action plan to integrate gender equity into agricultural governance, as the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and with support from the Gates Foundation, organised the Inception Workshop on Institutionalising the Gender Responsive Cell: Framework and Roadmap…

Chennai: In a move aimed at strengthening Odisha’s urban development framework through global best practices,Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha, undertook an exposure and knowledge-sharing visit to Chennai on February 12, 2026, to study affordable housing and urban habitat initiatives supported by the World Bank and the Asian…

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s ongoing efforts to revitalise and modernise the cooperative sector received strong endorsement from the Centre during the 4th meeting of the State Cooperative Development Committee (SCDC), attended by Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India. The meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, IAS, reviewed major reforms and implementation progress…

Bhubaneswar: With the CBSE Board Examinations approaching, a high-level review-cum-preparatory meeting was held to ensure smooth and effective conduct of the examinations across Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas (OAVs). The meeting was chaired by Dr. N. Thirumala Naik, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, School & Mass Education Department, and conducted in virtual mode with the participation of Principals from OAVs across…

Bhubaneswar: Odisha reinforced its position as a frontrunner in India’s clean energy transition with the successful hosting of the third edition of the Odisha Renewable Energy Investor Conclave 2026 in Bhubaneswar, mobilising investment commitments worth nearly Rs 67,000 crore for renewable energy projects with a total capacity of 6.8 GW. Organised by the Energy Department,…

Bhubaneswar: In a major boost to Odisha’s industrial ecosystem, the Land Allotment Committee (LAC), chaired by IDCO Chairperson Usha Padhee, IAS, has approved land allocation for 31 long-pending industrial projects, paving the way for accelerated investment and employment generation across the State. The meeting, held at IDCO Towers here, marked a decisive step towards fast-tracking…

Bhubaneswar: The 20th Grand Toshali Swadeshi Mela, one of Odisha’s largest exhibitions celebrating handlooms, handicrafts and indigenous products, will be held from February 14 to 26 at Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar, with participation from artisans and weavers across 20 states of India. The announcement was made at a press conference held at Gita Govinda Sadan, where…